Range hood with vortex fan

ABSTRACT

A range hood range hood according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a vortex fan installed on an upper portion of a kitchen range to suck and remove contaminants such as odor or smoke generated during cooking. The range hood includes a housing with an exhaust fan installed inside thereof, an upper case coupled to a lower end of the housing and guiding an airflow generated by a vortex fan, wherein a through hole connected to the exhaust fan is formed at a ceiling surface of the upper case, and a lower filter case installed spaced apart from a bottom of the vortex fan.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0061480 filed on May 24, 2019 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. 119, the contents of which in its entirety is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept relate to a range hood. More particularly, exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept relate to a range hood with a vortex fan installed on a top of a kitchen range to suck and remove pollutants such as odors and smoke generated during cooking.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a range hood refers to a device for inhaling heat and odor generated when using a range that is a heating device using gas or electricity to discharge outside. The range hood may be provided on a top of a sink to ventilate a kitchen, and may have a light mounted thereon useful when cooking.

Thus, in the kitchen, a range hood with a fan inside is installed to an exhaust duct to discharge odors and moisture to the outside, including harmful gases such as steam and polluted air. The range hood is configured to discharge waste gas, hot air and harmful gases and odors including polluted air to the outside through the exhaust duct by suction power of the range hood. A filtration filter made of metal mesh or nonwoven fabric is installed at the bottom of the range hood.

By the way, the conventional range hood has a simple structure to suck and discharge air around a cooking space by using a suction force of the exhaust fan installed therein. The suction power, or suction flow rate, of a typical exhaust fan has a physical limit that falls below one tenth of a fan inlet flow rate as far as a diameter of the fan. When cooking smelly or greasy food, even if the range hood is turned on a maximum power, there is a problem that the harmful gas and odor generated during cooking is not smoothly exhausted and diffuses into a room.

Range hood is legally to be installed at least 600 mm away from the fire. However, the suction flow rate of the conventional range hood is almost 0 m/s when only 100 mm away from a hood inlet, so that it does not absorb contaminants generated during cooking. Of course, steam generated when heated to a high temperature is discharged when raised to the hood inlet due to the high temperature. However, heavy contaminants with mass such as fine dust or odor particles are not sucked up and spread to the room.

In order to solve this problem, the conventional method is to increase a rotational speed of the exhaust fan installed inside the range hood to increase the air flow rate, that is, increase the suction flow rate. However, it is impossible because in order to double the suction flow rate by fan law, air volume must be increased by 8 times. In practice, it is best to double the airflow to increase the suction velocity by 26%. Increasing the air volume by two times inevitably increases noise, housewives are reluctant to use the range hood.

For this reason, since exhaust effect to the pollution source is actually weak even in the state in which the range hood is installed, windows or living room doors are opened to discharge the pollution source. There is a problem that it is hard to prevent noise and maximize efficiency of cooling and heating.

SUMMARY

One or more exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept provides a range hood that can prevent harmful gases and odors and heat including various contaminants generated in a cooking process to diffuse into a room around a cooking space.

One or more exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept also provide a range hood that can be quickly and smoothly exhausted to create a comfortable indoor environment and increase the ease of use.

One or more exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept also provide a range hood with a filter member installed under a vortex fan in which a flow of air flow by the vortex fan is not disturbed by the filter member.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, a range hood includes a housing with an exhaust fan installed inside thereof, an upper case coupled to a lower end of the housing and guiding an airflow generated by a vortex fan, wherein a through hole connected to the exhaust fan is formed at a ceiling surface of the upper case, and a lower filter case installed spaced apart from a bottom of the vortex fan.

In an exemplary embodiment, an exhaust space may be formed between an outer surface of the lower filter case and an inner surface of the upper case.

In an exemplary embodiment, the range hood may further include a plurality of supports coupled along a circumference of the lower filter case so that the lower filter case is supported by being spaced a predetermined distance below the vortex fan.

In an exemplary embodiment, a separation space may be formed between the upper surface of the lower filter case and the ceiling surface of the upper case. The vortex fan may be disposed in the separation space. The airflow pushed outward by the vortex fan may be discharged through the exhaust space to form a vortex in a lower outer side of the lower filter case.

In an exemplary embodiment, the upper case has a ceiling surface where the through hole may be formed, and an inclined surface inclined downward along a circumference of the ceiling surface.

In an exemplary embodiment, a mounting hole may be formed through the lower filter case, and a filter member is coupled to the mounting hole to face the vortex fan.

In an exemplary embodiment, the range hood may further include a driving motor installed inside the housing to supply power for operation of the exhaust fan.

In an exemplary embodiment, the vortex fan may be coupled to a bottom of the rotating shaft of the exhaust fan protruding to a bottom of the ceiling surface of the upper case through the through hole.

In an exemplary embodiment, one end of the plurality of supports may be coupled to an upper surface of the lower filter case along a circumference of the upper surface of the lower filter case. The other end of the plurality of supports may be coupled to the ceiling surface of the upper case.

In an exemplary embodiment, one end of the plurality of support may be coupled to an outer surface of the lower filter case along an outer circumference of the lower filter case. The other end of the plurality of supports may be coupled to an inner side of the upper case.

In an exemplary embodiment, the upper case may have a shape that gradually increases in width from a top to a bottom.

In an exemplary embodiment, the vortex fan may include a shaft part which has a hollow cylindrical shape, a circular band member formed to be spaced apart from a radially outer side of the shaft part to surround the shaft part, a plurality of connecting rods extending radially to an inner surface of the circular band member along an outer circumference of the shaft part, a rotating plate that is formed to extend in a form of a ring along an outer circumference of the circular band member, and a plurality of pin members spaced apart from the rotating plate by a predetermined distance and formed vertically.

According to the exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, vortices are formed on both sides of a lower filter case to prevent indoor diffusion of contaminants generated in cooking process.

In addition, according to a range hood of the present invention, by interaction of an exhaust fan and a vortex fan, it is possible to exert suction power over a wider range than when using only a conventional exhaust fan. As a flow rate of the rising air is high, it is possible to quickly remove contaminants and odors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features of the inventive concept will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a range hood with vortex fan according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is state of use of the range hood with a vortex fan according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, the inventive concept will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments described below are only for explaining in detail that the person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily implement the invention, and this does not mean that the protection scope of the present invention is limited thereto. In describing various embodiments of the present invention, the same reference numerals will be used for components having the same technical characteristics.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a range hood with vortex fan according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a range hood with a vortex fan (100, hereinafter ‘range hood’) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 200 to which an exhaust fan 210 is installed, an upper case 300 coupled to a bottom of the housing 200, a vortex fan 400 installed inside an upper case 300, and a lower filter case 500 spaced apart from a bottom of the vortex fan 400.

Here, the housing 200 and the upper case 300, the vortex fan 400 and the lower filter case 500 may be made of a metal material or a plastic material that does not rust well, such as stainless steel or aluminum.

The housing 200 is installed to be spaced apart from the top of a kitchen utensil. Inside the housing 200, an exhaust fan 210 and a driving motor 220 that supplies power for operation of the exhaust fan 210 are installed. The exhaust fan 210 may be a centrifugal fan (such as a sirocco fan, a turbo fan, etc.) or an axial fan that are well known in the art. A motor housing 221 receiving the driving motor 220 may be coupled to the upper portion of the housing 200. In addition, an exhaust duct (not shown) for discharging contaminants to the outside of the housing 200 or the motor housing 221 may be coupled.

The upper case 300 is coupled to a bottom of the housing 200. At this time, the upper case 300 has a shape that gradually increases in width from a top to a bottom. The upper case 300 may include a ceiling surface 310 where a circular through hole 311 is formed and an inclined surface 320 inclined downwardly along the circumference of the ceiling surface 310. Although the upper case 300 having a square pyramid shape which has a square plate-shaped ceiling surface 310 and inclined surfaces 320 respectively inclined from our corners of the ceiling surface 310 to outside in the embodiment shown in the drawings, this is only one embodiment of the present invention. An overall appearance of the upper case 300 may be appropriately selected as needed to include the ceiling surface 310 and the inclined surface 320 formed to be inclined downwardly downward along a periphery of the ceiling surface 310.

In addition, a through hole 311 formed on a ceiling surface 310 of the upper case 300 is formed to communicate with an exhaust fan 210 installed in the housing 200. Therefore, smoke and harmful substances generated in a cooking process may be sucked into the exhaust fan 210 through the through hole 311.

The exhaust fan 210 is installed on an upper portion of the through hole 311. A lower end of a rotating shaft 211 of the exhaust fan 210 protrudes below the ceiling surface 310 of the upper case 300 through the through hole 311. In this way, the vortex fan 400 is coupled to the rotating shaft 211 protruding below the ceiling surface 310 of the upper case 300. That is, the exhaust fan 210 and the vortex fan 400 may be integrally rotated by the same rotating shaft 211.

Here, the vortex fan 400 includes a shaft part 410 which has a hollow cylindrical shape, a circular band member 420 formed to be spaced apart from a radially outer side of the shaft part 410 to surround the shaft part 410, a plurality of connecting rods 430 extending radially to an inner surface of the circular band member 420 along an outer circumference of the shaft part 410, a rotating plate 440 that is formed to extend in a form of a ring along an outer circumference of the circular band member 420, and a plurality of pin members 450 spaced apart from the rotating plate 440 by a predetermined distance and formed vertically. However, this is only one embodiment of the present invention, a specific shape of the vortex fan 400 can be appropriately changed design as needed.

The lower filter case 500 is installed to be spaced apart from a lower portion of the vortex fan 400. For example, the lower filter case 500 may be formed in a rectangular frame shape, as shown in the drawing. A mounting hole 510 for coupling a filter member 600 is formed through inside of the lower filter case 500. The filter member 600 is coupled to the mounting hole 510 of the lower filter case 500 to face the upper vortex fan 400. The filter member 600 may be made of, for example, a grill in a form of a lattice network to prevent foreign matter from entering.

According to a range hood 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, an exhaust space is formed between an outer surface of the lower filter case 500 and an inner surface of the upper case 300. In a separation space between the lower filter case 500 and the upper case 300, an airflow pushed outward by the vortex fan is discharged through the exhaust space 700 to outer side of the upper case 300.

At this time, a plurality of supports (for example, computer bolts) 800 which is spaced apart and supports the lower filter case 500 on an inner side of the upper case 300 is coupled along a circumference of the lower filter case 500. As an example, one end is coupled to an upper side of the lower filter case 500 along a circumference of the upper side of the lower filter case 500, as shown in the drawing. At the other end, the plurality of supports 800 is coupled to a ceiling surface 310 of the upper case 300. As another example, a plurality of supports 800 having one end which is coupled to an outer surface of the lower filter case 500 along the outer circumference of the lower filter case 500, and the other end which is coupled to an inner surface of the upper case 300.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the lower filter case 500 is spaced apart at a predetermined distance to the lower portion of the vortex fan 400 by the plurality of support 800. In addition, the lower filter case 500 is supported by the plurality of supports 800 spaced apart a predetermined distance inside the upper case 300. An exhaust space 700 is formed between the outer surface of a lower filter case 500 and an inner surface of the upper case 300.

According to the range hood 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, while the filter member 600 of the lower filter case 500 is disposed on a lower portion of the vortex fan 400, the airflow pushed out by the vortex fan 400 moves toward the outside of the lower filter case 500 and flows naturally due to the exhaust space 700 formed between the outer surface of the lower filter case 500 and the inner surface of the upper case 300.

FIG. 4 is state of use of the range hood with a vortex fan according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The vortex fan 400 is disposed in a space 460 between the upper side of the lower filter case 500 and the ceiling side of the upper case 300. When the driving motor 220 is operated, the vortex fan 400 rotates together with the exhaust fan 210.

The Vortex fan 400 pushes air out of the separation space 460 when rotated. The airflow pushed out flows along an inclined surface of the upper case 300 and then is discharged out of the upper case 300 through the exhaust space 700 between the outer surface of the lower filter case 500 and the inner surface of the upper case 300.

As such, the airflow discharged to the outside of the upper case 300 is returned by a suction force of the exhaust fan 210, and a vortex is formed at the outer bottom of the lower filter case 500. That is, a kind of low pressure zone is formed on an outer periphery of the lower filter case 500, and an upward air flow is formed in a center where the exhaust fan 210 and the vortex fan 400 are disposed. This upward airflow is strengthened by the suction force of the exhaust fan 210. The donut-type low-pressure zone is circularly moved as the exhaust fan 210 is rotationally driven together with the vortex fan 400.

The upward airflow is strengthened by the suction force of the exhaust fan 210, and the donut-type low-pressure zone is in a circular motion as the exhaust fan 210 is rotationally driven together with the vortex fan 400. The resulting whirlpool airflow allows capture of gases over a wide range. At this time, a central portion of the whirlwind airflow is supplied with an upward propulsion force by the exhaust fan 210 at a very low pressure, and the airflow rises at a high speed. Therefore, according to the range hood 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to discharge pollutants and odors indoors powerfully and quickly.

The foregoing is illustrative of the inventive concept and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible within the scope of the inventive concept as defined in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A range hood, comprising: a housing with an exhaust fan installed inside thereof; an upper case coupled to a lower end of the housing and guiding an airflow generated by a vortex fan, wherein a through hole connected to the exhaust fan is formed at a ceiling surface of the upper case; and a lower filter case installed spaced apart from a bottom of the vortex fan.
 2. The range hood of claim 1, wherein an exhaust space is formed between an outer surface of the lower filter case and an inner surface of the upper case.
 3. The range hood of claim 2, further comprising: a plurality of supports coupled along a circumference of the lower filter case so that the lower filter case is supported by being spaced a predetermined distance below the vortex fan.
 4. The range hood of claim 2, wherein a separation space is formed between the upper surface of the lower filter case and the ceiling surface of the upper case; the vortex fan is disposed in the separation space; and the airflow pushed outward by the vortex fan is discharged through the exhaust space to form a vortex in a lower outer side of the lower filter case.
 5. The range hood of claim 1, wherein the upper case has a ceiling surface where the through hole is formed, and an inclined surface inclined downward along a circumference of the ceiling surface.
 6. The range hood of claim 1, wherein a mounting hole is formed through the lower filter case, and a filter member is coupled to the mounting hole to face the vortex fan.
 7. The range hood of claim 1, further comprising: a driving motor installed inside the housing to supply power for operation of the exhaust fan.
 8. The range hood of claim 1, wherein the vortex fan is coupled to a bottom of the rotating shaft of the exhaust fan protruding to a bottom of the ceiling surface of the upper case through the through hole.
 9. The range hood of claim 3, wherein one end of the plurality of supports is coupled to an upper surface of the lower filter case along a circumference of the upper surface of the lower filter case; and the other end of the plurality of supports is coupled to the ceiling surface of the upper case.
 10. The range hood of claim 3, wherein one end of the plurality of support is coupled to an outer surface of the lower filter case along an outer circumference of the lower filter case; and the other end of the plurality of supports is coupled to an inner side of the upper case.
 11. The range hood of claim 1, wherein the upper case has a shape that gradually increases in width from a top to a bottom.
 12. The range hood of claim 1, wherein the vortex fan comprises: a shaft part which has a hollow cylindrical shape; a circular band member formed to be spaced apart from a radially outer side of the shaft part to surround the shaft part; a plurality of connecting rods extending radially to an inner surface of the circular band member along an outer circumference of the shaft part; a rotating plate that is formed to extend in a form of a ring along an outer circumference of the circular band member; and a plurality of pin members spaced apart from the rotating plate by a predetermined distance and formed vertically. 